Blame the journalist
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May 5, 2013S |
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Content unedited, publishers comments added.
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Mr. Weland,
an article you published in reference to posting
the name of the Juvenile in Naples I found to be
lacking in ethics as you say. I personally
talked to the Boundary Paper, and the Bonner Bee
both of which did not publish the name in the
articles they ran.
I quote you,
"Publishing news that is to be heard and trusted
is not easy, nor without cost. I did not want to
publish this child's name. I am aware his life
is going to be worse because I named him; his
friends and family now stand in the public, as
well as the legal eye."
You chose to publish his name, its not a matter
of trusted news, it was in an effort to draw
readers/visitors to your site thus gaining
revenue form the ads you so radically display on
your site.
So by you saying you did not want to publish his
name, is BS and was for personal gain. I am not
sure how you preach on ethics when you in fact
take advantage of a story that is a hot topic in
the community and the state and call it trusted
journalism, anyone can start a Facebook group
and write articles on the community but this
does not make you or anyone a journalist.
Regards,
I do not give permission for the use of this
email, my name or the publication in part or
whole this conversation or the content of this
email to be used on your personal, public site
or Facebook. |
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Troy Steven Janda |
Mr. Janda,
I have tried to be polite and accede to your
wish that your name nor words be published on
this website, but as you are so insistent on
telling me your grievance, I think, as a
journalist, that your words merit my reader's
attention.
As a matter of journalistic ethics, I must tell
you; there is no such thing as speaking off the
record. You have, in a court of law, the right
to remain silent, and anything you say can and
will be used. Despite your assertion and
disclaimer,
I, as a reporter, did not solicit your comments,
nor did I agree to your request to immunity from
publication..
I have every right to publish, and I am. You had
the right to remain silent, apparently, you
don't have the ability.
If in reference to the "Boundary Paper," you were
referring to the Bonners Ferry Herald, I must
disagree; the child's name was published. If
that journal agreed to pull the name off-line, I
respect that. They can't recall what's been set
in ink.
I will not remove the name.
Anyone can walk into the Boundary County court
clerk's office and request the record; that's
the meaning of public record. You don't have to
be a journalist to ask.
I could well have named one of the two other
kids; the name is public record, too.
They denied guilt.
Were they adults, I'd likely have published
their names before an admission of guilt, but I
draw a line. I think kids typically mean no
harm. Until proven guilty, I refrain from naming
names of kids.
I appreciate your concern, sir, and I've
respected your request for anonymity until
now.
You have the right to your opinion. I don't
think I deserve the right to hear your arguments
against my publication or myself, or to let them go by
without answer ... I respect you but I think and
can prove, by public record, that your opinion
is not founded in fact.
Mr. Janda, instead of helping, you may hurt.
This young man stood up and admitted his wrong.
He didn't ask for promises or favors; he stands
ready to pay the price for a serious crime.
I pray the judge will take his honesty into
consideration, rather than your attempt at
obfuscation. |
Mike Weland
newsbf.com
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Regarding the argument over naming the kid who
did one of the bomb threats or not, that Mr.
Janda made such an ordeal that those of us who
had already forgotten his name will look it up
again and we sure won't forget it now!
Some things are better off to let the heat die
down, not to throw fuel on the fire acting like
a jerk publically about it.
His name was not only posted on News Bonners
Ferry, but in the Herald as well, and now, with
Troy's help, many more people will remember it
than would have before. |
Julie Miller
Bonners Ferry
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I am very happy to read your online edition of
our community's news paper ... I have read many
articles and have seen many posts done by you
informing our community of road closures and/or
traffic issues, as well as keeping us updated on
when these roads have opened to loads.
I can honestly say that while I can understand
the ethics question about whether you should or
not release PUBLICLY available information, as
an ethical reporter you are obligated to your
readers to provide the facts as they are made
publicly available.
I applaud you in regards to the job you do and
wish you many more years of success. I for one
would have been disappointed in you if you would
have released the juveniles' names who are at
this time not convicted, but do stand by and
agree that you are right ethically and morally
to write your journalistic article naming any
and all guilty parties found and proven guilty
by the courts as part of your job and passion to
providing us, the readers in our community, of
your fine articles. |
Thomas Husk
Bonners Ferry |
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